Slimwhit33
Well-Known Member
It’s a direct drive, not belt driven. I don’t ever notice a motor rumble, but belt-diehards claim it’s a thing. In terms of difference, simply, it’s a tank. It’s damn near 30 pounds and could probably take a bullet. I owned a Technics before this and will confidently say it will hang. Wow and flutter tolerances every time I’ve tested mine have been well below the stated specs.
Gotta be careful with the Grados because of motor placement, but not like there aren’t a pile of great cart manufacturers out there.
Couple things to be aware of - it’s patterned after a DJ table, not an audiophile machine (hence it weighing a ton). So it takes some minor tweaking to push it over the line - as discussed here in the past, the @HiFi Guy SS package (replace the headshell and add tonearm damper) as well as a decent mat are must haves.
Since you’re not using the Giant Pile Of Mats, you’ll have to futz with the VTA (not the end of the world) and in my experience, it doesn’t love low-rider carts. Or maybe I just don’t love them.
I feel like it’s a solid step up from the Uturn, but at the same time feel like you could add a lot of bells and whistles to a Uturn too, so there’s that argument too, I suppose.
I also found the step up noticeable.. it was also a door into wanting more and more.. rabbit hole ya know...